New Energy for Medicaid Expansion: Some Good News

Maine and Virginia are getting lots of attention for their resounding support for Medicaid expansion.

By a large margin, Maine voters approved a referendum in support of expansion. Maine’s governor had vetoed legislation for the expansion five times. An estimated 70,000 to 90,000 people could gain insurance.

In Virginia, a Democratic governor had been unable to get Medicaid expansion approved by the state legislature. On Tuesday, voters elected a Democrat as governor and the party won 15 out of the 17 seats they need to take control of the state legislature. Several races were too close to call on Wednesday or require a recount.

Other news might be even more promising. In exit polls, two out of five voters in Virginia identified health as their top concern. That number was double that of any other concern mentioned.

In Utah, a political committee completed required public hearings around the state and will start gathering the signatures needed to get a Medicaid expansion question on next year’s ballot. The state’s governor and state senate had already tried to pass expansion, but failed because of the Republican controlled legislature.

Maine’s success is also encouraging efforts in Idaho for a ballot initiative on expansion. Reclaim Idaho has submitted a proposal to add the issue to the ballot for the 2018 election. The group must gather signatures from six percent of registered voters in order for the ballot initiative to move forward.